Why I Am a Muslim (Hardcover)

~ Asma Gull Hasan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Out of all the cultures in the world... true Islamic values, as embodied in the Qur'an and the life of the Prophet Muhammad, most closely resemble American values." So asserts Hasan, who has devoted much of her adult life—she is not yet 30—to combating anti-Muslim prejudice. As in her first book, American Muslims, she passionately argues against stereotypes and in favor of an Islam that sounds a lot like Reform Judaism or liberal Christianity. This is the Islam she knew growing up in Pueblo, Colo.—an American girl who looked Chicana and attended a Catholic school. Hasan's version of Islam would have appealed to America's founders with its advocacy of human equality, religious tolerance, property rights and self-improvement. It harmonizes just as well with 21st-century America's spiritual inclinations: it is nonjudgmental, inclusive, open-minded, diverse, experiential, emotional and even feminist. "The Prophet Muhammad is personally responsible for the greatest advancement of women's rights in a single time period," she writes, noting that no Islamic justification exists for abuses such as female genital mutilation or stoning adulteresses; these stem from ancient patriarchal traditions that pre-date Islam. Not all American Muslims welcome Hasan's interpretation of their faith or appreciate her enthusiasm for America (she recounts several experiences with such antagonists and suggests that they move to an Islamic country). Unfazed, she counters: "I'll make my own tradition—one that embodies my own American Muslim ethnic culture.[Hasan's italics]"
-" This is do-it-yourself American religion at its most appealing.
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Product Description

Part memoir, part polenic, it represents the side of Islam that is left out of the daily newspaper. For Asma Hasan being a Muslin is not merely a matter of birth, but a matter of choice.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Element Books Ltd. (March 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007175337
• ISBN-13: 978-0007175338
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,188,206 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worse than a sentimental pamphlet on Islam! Skip It., May 6, 2004

By	"kamranmeer" (Fremont, California United States) - See all my reviews

This book is worse than the sentimental pamphlets on Islam one sees on the streets of London and New York. Most information in it is a narrow cherry-pick. This is such a confused account of Islam that it does major damage on several fronts. Specifically:

1. Asma is wrong to state that freedom of speech is a core value of both Islam and America. In fact freedom of speech occupies a totally different context in Islam than it does in America. American culture values individual freedom even at the expense of collective culture. On the other hand, Islam places the highest value on stability of the community, even at the expense of individual freedom. The Qur'an has defined strict limits to behavior - no drinking, no pork, no sex outside marriage, no homosexuality, no blasphemy, prohibition to convert out of Islam, modesty in manners for both men and women, Muslim women not allowed to marry non-Muslim men, women's legal testimony in financial matters weighted half that of men, etc. Asma seems oblivious to these basic facts about Islam.

2. Asma commits a major blunder by claiming throughout the book that "Muhammad founded Islam". This is the incorrect and irritating language of 19th century European Orientalists who Asma seems to have blindly copied. No Muslim will ever say that Prophet Muhammad (Upon Him Be Peace) "founded" Islam. If anyone "founded" Islam, it is God. Muhammad is only a messenger.

3. Asma goes on to write that according to Armstrong, "If Muhammad had known about other religions, he would have celebrated these religions too". Is Asma implying that Prophet Muhammad (Upon Him Be Peace) created the laws of Islam himself or that God is unaware of non-semitic religions?

4. Asma claims to know why Satan did not bow down to Adam. She asks "Was Satan right not to bow down to Adam?" She then responds, "Of course, humans are not perfect". Such flaky and dangerous logic makes travesty of the rich Muslim theological tradition of 1400 years. In her hubris, Asma does not even end such statements by the characteristic Muslim expression "walla hu alam" (which means "God knows best") and is always appended to personal opinions by Muslims where answers to difficult questions cannot be established with certitude. She also claims to know what God meant in the Qur'an when God said to the angels "And I know what you know not". Her presumptuous and nonsensical answer is that "we, as humans, are sometimes lucky enough to reach the highest of highs".

5. The child-like writing leaves much to be desired. An example of disjointed sentences littered throughout the book: "Islam is a simple religion. It is not as complicated as everyone makes it seem. It can be complicated if you want it to be. "Therefore stand firm in the straight path as thou art commanded," the Qur'an says (11:112). When Monir called me, I answered the phone. In Islam, God is just a call away, too."

6. Asma's claim that "Islam has had little problem with science" is only the position of modern apologists who want to see Islam validated by science. I suggest that Asma and the serious readers get a copy of Nasr's "Religion and the Order of Nature" to get to know the hierarchical principles under which Islamic Science is cultivated. It stands in contrast to the profane principles of modern science.

7. Asma displays arrogance by stating her views on polygamy thus: "In the end, the view that a reasonable person would take away is that polygamy is no longer allowed." I want to know what if a situation gets created in Palestine or Iraq or Kashmir or Afghanistan or Chechnya in future where large numbers of men are killed fighting on-going wars. Will Asma's feminist streak then allow Muslim men the responsibility of multiple wives to take care of homeless women and orphans or not?

8. Asma says that American Law and Islamic Law are similar. This again shows how little she knows. You're better off reading El Fadl or Rahman's analysis on the key differences between American and Islamic Law.

9. Asma insists that she respects freedom of speech, which she calls core values of both Islam and America. But then she smugly suggests that those who criticize America should leave America (in her words "if you don't need America, then we don't need you"). What sort of logic is this? Why won't she let others express themselves freely? What sort of tolerance is Asma displaying by demanding the expulsion of those who want to make America better by criticizing its darker aspects? (e.g. Middle East policy, anti-Muslim attitudes and Iraq policy immediately come to mind, not to mention US government's support of tin-pot dictators and petty tyrants like Saudi Royal family, Hosni Mubarak etc.).

12. Asma cannot see that America is a secular society, which is radically different from Islam's God-centered vision of society. Islam recognizes tolerance but does not endorse secularism. The élan of the Qur'an is that you should "never ever forget God" but always keep God present in your consciousness and fear the Day of Judgement. All secular cultures by default marginalize religion so cannot be compatible with an Islamic society. Serious readers should read Rene Guenon's "The Reign of Quantity" to see how both secularism and democracy are the profane indicators of a modern human society racing towards dissolution.

My advice to readers: save your precious time and money by skipping this book. It was not for nothing that Prophet Muhammad (Upon Him Be Peace) warned against learning about Islam from those who are not trained and qualified for the task.

If Asma reads this review, she might ask me to leave America as well. But I'm not going anywhere, Asma! I too am an American Muslim and America is my home so I'm staying put!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars There are much better books about Islam out there!!, April 28, 2005

By	Fatima Ali (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

I do hope that Asma's heart was in the right place when she wrote this book. Islam teaches us to educate others about our religion, but not at the expense of accuracy. I feel this book gives an inaccurate portrayel of Islam. She supposedly quotes different prophets by writing in her book, " they probably said this ...." That is completely inappropriate, who are we to guess what these religious leaders said hundreds of years ago? After reading this book, I seriously question her writing ability and desire to be accurate and sincere in her desire to educate others about Islam. I feel she became an "author" to make a name for herself and to be known as someone with great Islamic knowledge. Please if you want to read a smartly written book on Islam there are many to choose from, just don't let this book be on your list. You could start with The Complete Idiots Guide to Islam.

I, for one, am relieved that I checked this book out from the library. I wasted my precious time reading it, but at least saved my $$$$

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Personal and genuine dialogue with the average reader, September 27, 2006

By	Average Dude - See all my reviews

Wow there are some seriously vicious people in here. Ah to be objective...the claim of many but the accomplishment of the few!
I just finished reading this book, and it was overall an enjoyable experience. This is not an in-depth view or history of Islam. It is what the title says... Why the author, the person, herself, is Muslim!
For someone wanting more or searching deep insight, it could be better researched, it could be a bit deeper. Some of it went slow and i had to fast-forward through those parts.
But this book is a personal conversation between the author and the average person unfamiliar with Islam, and comes from the author's heart and mind.
Despite the subjective nature of the title and book, Hasan is objective and logically explains her views along with her personal experiences.
It was an enjoyable read, taught me a couple of things, made me understand her viewpoint, and had genuinely touching and moving and deep moments in it.
It's worth the good parts and touching moments and insight.